Getter flashing mechanism



April 7, 1959 w. A. ALLGAIER 2,881,298

GETTER FLASHING MECHANISM Filed Jan. '22, 1958 2 sheets-sheet 1 WILLIAM A.'ALLGA|ER BY l v ATTO EY R O m m vm mm mm mw mw mm ww ww f w l, 3% Nm oN Nm om NN wm E.

vm E n wm $1.4, 1 ivi Apr'il 7, 1959 Filed Jan. 22, 1958 lwQA. A LLGAIER 'GETTER FLASHING MECHANISM 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR WILLIAM A. ALLGAIER o BY ATTORNEY 2,881,298 GETTER FLASHING MECHANISM William A. Allgaier, Emporium, Pa., assignor to Sylvania Electric Products Inc., a corporation of Massachusetts Application January 22, 1958, Serial No. 710,542 8 Claims. v(Cl. 219-10.69)

This invention relates to getter ashing mechanism.'

In the manufacture of electron tubes it is usual to incorporate within the tube an oxygen getter, such as barium, to absorb residual gases within the tube. This getter during assembly of the component parts of a tube is usually placed in a metallic torus shaped cup or in a portion of a wire loop, the torus or loop being subsequently inductively heated by association with a flashing coil to vaporize or flash the getter material which is then, by reason of the shape of the getter holder material and of its position in the tube, deposited on the interior walls of the tube. In a common construction of the tube the getter material and the holder are placed within the dome of the tube bulb between a top insulating wafer and the bulb. The flashing of the getter material or getter, as termed in the art, may be eifected, in accordance with desired results, either during the exhausting cycle of the bulb when it is on a sealex, i.e., an indexible turret type of machine which, among other functions, exhausts the bulb and seals the same, or this flashing may be effected afterward, but preferably before the parts within the tube have cooled materially below the temperature to which Iliff@ 4StatesPat-em:

the tubes had been subjected in previous processing of the tube on the sealex. If the flashing of the getter be performed during the time the tube is on the sealex, the period of flashing is limited to a fraction of the time between turret indexing operations since time must be consumed in bringing the flash coil in proper relation to the tube. It is a purpose of this invention to provide for longer flashing time for the getter by flashing the same immediately after the tube has been removed from the sealex and for substantially the full length of time elapsing between tube discharging operations from the machine. Another purpose of the invention is to control the movement of the tubes to and from effective association with the flashing coil by a part associated with the sealex.

` Still another objective is to provide a gating mechanism Yfor controlling the movements of a tube along a chute to a getter ashing position on the chute and to effect positive discharge of the tube from the chute should it fail to move away from getter flashing position after having been arrested thereat and flashed. Other purposes and objectives will become apparent upon consideration of the following specification and claims when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing in which:

Fig. l is a side elevation of the tipping otf mechanism and the getter ashing mechanism, parts being shown in section, with a tube in getter flashing position.

Fig. l2 is a similar view but showing the just ilashed tube leaving the chute and a tube to be flashed ready to be allowed to move to the getter flashing position.

' Fig. 3 isa top View of the chute. 1

Fig. 4 is a side elevation of a portion of the tipping off mechanism.

Referring to the drawings with greater particularity, at 10 there is indicated generally a tip-oli? mechanism com- -v prising a vertical post 11 which is yieldingly vertically reciprocated in a sleeve 12. At the vupper end of the 2,881,298 ljatented Apr. 7, 1959 2 post is mounted a platform 14, the same being provided with burners 16 adapted to impinge on the exhaust tubulation of a tube to be sealed off. On the platform is pivot- `ally mounted, by means of pivot 'pin 18, a carrier 20 on which is mounted a slotted U-bar 22 in which slides the T-shaped support bar 24 to which is attached a tubulation receiving cup 26. The cup supports the electron tube at the juncture between the exhaust tubulation and the bulb portion of the tube.' A-spring 28 normally maintains the cup in its upper position relation to the carrier 20 and against a stop head 30 at the upper unthreaded portion of a stop screw 32 threaded into an upper end cross bar 33 mounted on top of the U-bar. A second stop screw 34 threaded into the horizontal portion of the T- bar limits the downward movement of the cup relative to the carrier. The carrier is provided with a roller 36 olfset from the pivot pin 18 and the roller rides in a cam slot 38 in a plate 40 adjustably fastened to a cam holder plate 42 in turn adjustably mounted on the upper end of a part fixed to the sleeve 12. A stop screw 44 limits the rotational movement of the carrier. the tipping olf mechanism thus far described are conventional and are not specifically claimed, no further description of the tipping oi mechanism, per se, is here set forth.

In accordance with this invention, there is attached to the top of the shaft 11van offset elongated bar 50 to operate gating mechanism in a chute, as will be described.

Immediately below where the completely processed but untiashed tube is discharged from the tilted cup 26, is a proximating in diameter the diameter of the tubes being fprocessed and is provided at its lower end with a stop 54 adjustably mounted on a lower arm 56 of a lever 58.

The stop comprises a conical head 60 with a flat tubelead engaging face 62, the foward end of the stop being lformed into a slotted shank 63 straddlng vertical faces of lever arm 56 and provided with a bolt 66 passing through the legs of the shank and through an elongated slot 68 in the lever arm. By adjustment of the stop, a tube may be arrested in proper position in the chute so that the getter support within the tube would-be in proper inductive relation to an inductive heater and getter ashing coil 70 surrounding the chute near its lower end and such as is conventionally used in the art.

The lever 58 is pivotally mounted intermediate its ends by a pivot stud 72 mounted inthe upper end of a bracket 74 fastened to the sides of the chute in any convenient manner, as by screws 76. `The rear end of the lever pivotally supports on a pivot pin 78 a second stop 80, the upper end of which is arcuately slotted, as at 82. A bolt 84, passing through the slot and threaded into the lever 58, holds the second stop in a desired angular position relative to the lever and with a Idesired spacing between the lower end of the second stop and the face 62 of the stop 54. The rear face of the stop 80, at the lower end, is rounded, as indicated at 81, the rounded end having pivot 72 as its center of curvature so that accelerative rotation of the lever in moving the stop up from the chute will not cause a tube resting against the stop 80 to be kicked back along the chute or out of it.

The bar 50 which moves up and down with the tipping ol mechanism is provided at its forward end with a vertical rod 82 passing freely through an aperture in the bar at its forward end and provided above the bar 50 with a stop 84 provided with a set screw 86 to permit adjustment of the rod relative to the bar. The rod 82 also passes through an aperture in an L-shaped bar 88 fastened to the lever by its short arm90 engaging a face of the lever. A screw 92 fastens the arm to the lever. The lower end Iof the rod 82 is headed asat 94. A spring 96l coiled 'about Since the parts of therod 82 is interposed between the upper face of bar 88 and the under face of b ar 50 and a second spring 98 similarly coiled about the frod 82 is interposed between the lower face of bar 88 and the` head 94. As a result of the springs the forces imparted to the lever 58 by the bar 50 in either direction of'rotation of the lever 58 is yielding, thereby preventing the stops 54 and 80 from crushing and breaking any tube between a stop and the chute.

The distance between the lower end of the stop 80 from the face 62 of the stop 54 is set to be about 2l/s times the overall length of a tube so that should a tube engaging the stop 54 remain in the chute on elevation of the stop, a second tube in the chute will be thrust by the stop 80 against the retained tube and cause both of them to move out of the chute.

The chute 52 may be supported in any convenient manner on a fixed portion of the machine as by a slotted plate 100 attached to the under surface of the chute by screws 102. The upper end of the chute is provided with a narrowed extension 104 to alord room for the tipping ofr` mechanism inits operation.

In operation, each time a tube is tipped oil?, the cup will be tilted by action of the roller 36 in cam slot 38 and a tube will slide down the chute and come into engagement with the now lowered stop 80, since the bar 50 through theaction of spring 98, will have acted to rotate the lever 58 counterclockwise. p

When the cup and associated parts are lowered, the bar 50 moves downwardly reversing the rotation of lever 58, raising the stop 80 and through the action of spring 96 bringing the stop 54 to active position. The tube previously deposited in the chute will now slide down to engage the lower forward stop 54, bringing the getter support within the tube directly within the induction coil. The next upward reciprocation of the tipping off mechanism raises the stop 54 to allow for discharge of the rst ashed tube as shown in Fig. 2 and lowers the stop 80 for the reception of another tube. The induction coil, may if desired, be constantly energized, and the flashing of the tube can therefore be prolonged so as to extend over substantially-the entire period between successive downward movements of the tipping off mechamsm.

Should, by any chance, a tube fail to leave the dashing position on upward movement of the stop 54, the pusher and stop 80 will become effective to thrust it and a next succeeding tube through the induction coil station and out of the chute. The thus unashed tube can be picked up by an operator during normal tube inspection processes and be ashed in any convenient manner. chute is preferably made of Transite or a non-conductive material so that there be no losses therein, but if of suitable metal, the induction'coil would be insulated therefrom.

What is claimed as new is:

l. A machine for processing atube enclosing elements which include a getter within a getter support, said machine comprising means for discharging a processed tube from said machine, a chute in position to receive a tube discharged from the machine, a gate having a stop in the chute for arresting travel of a tube along the chute, an inductive getter flashing coil in advance of the stop and in position with relation to the chute to be opposite the getter support within a tube when it is arrested by said stop, means operative in timed relationship with the tube discharge means to shift the gate to bring the stop to and from tube arresting position comprising a bar movable with the tube discharge means yieldingly operative on the gate'and stop to prevent crushing of a Vtube should it inadvertently be arrested between the chute and the stop moving toward the chute.

2. A machine for processing a tube enclosing elements which include a getter within a getter support, said machine comprising means for discharging a processed tube The l from said machine, a chute in position to receive a tube discharged from the machine, a gate having a stop in the chute for arresting travel of a tube along the chute, an inductive getter flashing coil in advance of the stop and in position with relation to the chute to be opposite the getter support within a tube when it is arrested by said stop, means operative in timed relationship with the tube discharge means to shift the gate to bring the stop to and from tube arresting position comprising a bar rigidly `connected at one end with a reciprocatable part of the tube discharge means, the other end of the bar being resliently connected with the gating means to prevent crushing of a tube should it inadvertently be arrested between the chute and the stop moving toward the chute.

3. A machine for processing a tube having an exhaust tubulaton attached thereto and having therein elements which include a getter within a getter support, said machine comprising a tubulaton sealing off mechanism involving a vertically reciprocatable carriage and a means for discharging the sealed 0E tube operating in timed relationship with the reciprocation of the carriage; a chute close to the sealing olf mechanism and in position to receive the discharged tube, a gating device mounted on said chute, said gating device having a stop movable into and out of the path of a tube slidable along the chute, means close to the chute for inductively heating the getter support within a tube when arrested by said stop, and means for operating said stop in timed relationship with the reciprocation of said carriage comprising a bar xed at one end to said carriage and resliently connected at the other end with said gating device.

4. A machine for processing a tube having an exhaust tubulaton attached thereto and having therein elements which include a getter within a getter support, said machine comprising a tubulaton sealing ol mechanism involving a vertically reciprocatable carriage and a means for discharging the sealed off tube operating in timed relationship with the reciprocation of the carriage; a chute close to the sealing ot mechanism and in position to receive the discharged tube, a gating device mounted on said chute, said gating device having a stop movable into and out of the path of a tube slidable along the chute, means close to the chute for inductively heating the getter support within a tube when arrested by said stop, and means for operating said stop in timed relationship with the reciprocation of said carriage comprising a bar fixed at one end to said carriage and resliently connected at the other end with said gating device, said gating device including a stop in advance of the first stop for arresting an oncoming tube while a previous tube is released from said lrst stop.

5. A machine for processing a tube having an exhaust tubulaton attached thereto and having therein elements which include a getter within a getter support, said machine comprising a tubulaton sealing oil mechanism involving a vertically reciprocatable carriage and a means for discharging the sealed oi tube operating in timed relationship with the reciprocation of the carriage; a chute close to the sealing oi mechanism and in position to receive the discharged tube, a gating device mounted on said chute, said gating device having a stop movable into and out of the path of a tube slidable along the chute, means close to the chute for inductively heating the getter support within a tube when arrested by said stop, and means for operating said stop in timed relationship with the reciprocation of said carriage comprising a bar fixed at one end to said carriage and resiliently connected at the other end with said gating device, said gating device including a second stop in advance of the first stop for arresting an oncoming tube while a previous tube is released from said rst stop and said second stop having a rounded nose at its torcward 4end to avoid kicking rback a 'tube lodged against said second stop when it i's shifted away from the chute to allow the tube to advance toward the first stop.

6. An inductive flasher device for a getter Within a tube, said flasher device comprising a chute, a gating device mounted on said chute comprising a lever pivoted intermediate its ends and having a first stop at one end adapted to move toward and away from an end portion of the chute, and having a second stop movable in alternation with the first stop away from and toward an intermediate portion of said chute, an inductive getter ashing coil positioned lalong the chute closer to the first stop than to the second stop whereby a tube with getter material therein arrested by said first stop may be ashed, and means for oscillating the lever, the distance between the rst stop and the second stop being slightly greater than the length of two end to end abutting tubes which may be lodged on the chute between the two stops, whereby oscillation of the lever will cause the second stop to engage the rear end of an adjacent tube and positively impel it and the tube ahead of it downwardly along the chute.

7. An inductive asher device for a getter within a tube, said flasher device comprising a chute, a gating device mounted on said chute comprising a lever pivoted intermediate its ends and having a rst stop at one end adapted to move toward and away from an end portion of the chute, and having a second stop movable in alternation with the lirst stop away from and toward an intermediate portion of said chute, an inductive getter ashing coil positioned along the chute closer to the iirst stop than to the second stop whereby a tube with getter material therein arrested by said first stop may be ashed, and means for oscillating the lever, the distance between the rst stop and the second stop being slightly greater than the length of two end to end abutting tubes which may be lodged on the chute between the two stops, whereby oscillation of the lever will cause the second stop to engage the rear end of an adjacent tube and positively impel it and the tube ahead of it downwardly along the chute, said means for oscillating the lever comprising a reciprocating mechanism and spring connections between said mechanism and the lever to spring urge the lever in each of its directions of motion, whereby crushing of a tube by either stop on approach movement thereof to the chute is avoided.

8. A machine for processing a tube having an exhaust tubulation attached thereto and having therein elements which include a getter Within a getter support, said machine comprising a tubulation sealing olf mechanism involving a vertically reciprocatable carriage and a means for discharging the sealed olf tube operating in timed relationship with the reciprocation of the carriage; a chute close to the sealing off mechanism and in position to receive the discharged tube, a gating device mounted on said chute, said gating device having a stop movable into and out of the path of a tube slidable along the chute, means close to the chute for inductively heating the getter support wit-hin a tube when arrested by said stop, and means for operating said stop in timed relationship with the carriage reciprocation comprising a bar xed at one end to said carriage and resiliently connected at the other end with said gating device, said gating device including a secand stop in advance of the iirst stop at a distance slightly rreater than the length of two tubes which may lodge in the chute, said second stop serving to arrest an oncoming tube while a previous tube is released from said first stop and also serving to impel any tubes along the chute which may have piled up between the rst and second stops.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,281,920 Ericson Oct. 15, 1918 2,329,188 Denneen et al Sept. 14, 1943 2,571,365 Hughes Oct. 16, 1951 2,726,311 Ropes Dec. 6, 1955 2,829,941 Laubscher Apr. 8, 1958 OTHER REFERENCES Siemens-Schuckertwerke: German application Ser. No. 537,326, VI/ 18C, printed November 10, 1955 (Klasse 18C Gruppe 1120). 

